Automatic lock slider



June 20, 1950 L H. MORIN AUTOMATIC Loox SLIDER Filed June 13, 1944INVENTOR Lou/S H. Mcm/v Y ATTORNEY Patented June 20, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT ori-lcs AUTOMATIC Loox SLIDER Louis H. Morin, Bronx, N. Y.Application :une 13, 1944,seria1it0. 540,075

2 Claims. (Cl. 24F-205.14)

This invention relates to sliders for use in coupling and uncouplingseparable fastener stringers. More particularly, the invention dealswith devices of this kind employing a spring actuated locking fingeradapted to be normally held in engagement with the scoops of at leastone Stringer of the fastener to retain the slider against accidentalopening movement. Further, the in.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description when taken together with the accompanying drawing,in which certain embodiments -of the invention are disclosed, and inwhich the separate parts are designated by suitable reference charactersin each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a part of a fastener with my improved lockslider thereon, part of the construction -being broken away and insection.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing part of the sliderin elevation and diagrammatically illustrating one scoop on one Stringertov indicate the locking engagement.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 i

omitting the stringer and scoop shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a partial section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, omitting part ofthe showing in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1, I have shown at I and Il a portion i of two stringers, uponthe beaded edges I2 and i3 of which are arranged longitudinally spacedscoops I4. The scoops I4 are of the coreless type and comprise scoopbodies of V-shaped cross-sectional form to provide longitudinal channelsl5 at the upper surfaces thereof and longitudinal ridges I6 at the lowersurfaces thereof, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. 'This formationof the scoops retains the scoops against transverse separation; whereasthe scoops have upper and lower transverse projections I1 at the outerends thereof, inwardly of which are upper and lower recesses I3, noteFig. 1, to couple the scoops against lateral or pull-apart separation.

At I3 is shown one of my improved lock sliders. The slider is in theform of a more or less conventional body defined by upper and lowerwalls 20 and 2l joined at one end by a connecting web 22. The walls 2liand 2| have inturned side flanges, as indicated at 23 in Fig. 3 of thedrawing. The outer surface of the top wall 20 oi.' the slider has, atthe end portions thereof. substantially U- shaped recesses 24 and 25, toreceive the outwardly flanged ends 26 and 21 of a pull support-4 ing bar28arranged centrally and longitudinally of the slider. The bar 2B has achannel portion 29, the side walls of which are recessed, as seen at 30,to receive the cross-head end 3l of a pull, the recesses 30 beingsufficiently long to permit substantial longitudinal movement of thepull with respect to the bar 28.

The flanged end 21 of the bar 23 ha's, on its inner surface, anenlargement 32, in which is formed a recess 33 for the reception of acoil spring 34. The spring is adapted to bear on the end 35 of alockfinger 36 directly above an aperture 31 formed in the finger. The uppersurface of the wall 20 has a projecting knob-33 arranged in the aperture31 to key the end of the finger in position on the wall 2li. Theenlarged portion 32 also has a downwardly extending projection 39 whichrests upon the end portion 35 of the finger to aid in supporting thefinger in engagement with the wall 20 and, further, to form what mightbe termed a pivot on which the finger can swing in movement intooperative and inoperative positions.

The central portion of the nger 36 has angularly disposed portionsforming two camming surfaces 40 and 4I adapted to be engaged by thecross-head 3| of the pull .to lift the offset end 42 of the fingerupwardly and out of engagement with the scoops I4 of at leastonestringer. The offset end 42 passes downwardly through an aperture 43 inthe top wall of the slider, as clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing, sothat the end 42 can normally extend into the channel of the slider toengage the scoops disposed therein.

It will be apparent that, in the engagement of the pull to operate theslider in the direction to separate the stringers or downwardly, as seenin Fig. 1, the cross-head 3i will engage the camming surface 40 towithdraw thelocking finger or end 42 from engagement with the scoops. 0nthe other hand, in moving the slider in the opposite direction orupwardly, as seen in Fig. l, the crosshead 3| will engage the cammingsurface 4| to accomplish the same result. When the pull is resting idly,the spring 34 will maintain the locking finger or end 42 thereof inconstant engagement with the scoops in retaining the slider againstaccidental movement in the opening direction or downward, as seen inFig. 1 of the drawing. Y

Considering Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the more or lesshook-shaped end 42 of the lock finger engages the recessed side ll ofthe scoop and will provide a positive locking of the slideragainstopening or downward movement. On the other hand, this hook-shapedor slightly rounded end 42 of the lock finger will more or less camitself over the upwardly flared bottom walls of the scoops, if theslider is moved into the closed position or upwardly without engagementof the pull. However, as above stated. in normal operation of the sliderthrough the medium of the pull, the lock finger is at all times movedout of the path of the scoops, thus providing free travel of the slideralong the stringers.

It will be understood that the inturned flanges '44, bordering therecesses 24 and 25, in the manner illustrated in the drawing, are formedafter the bar 28 is arranged in position in said recesses. In formingthe slider of a die casting, this is accomplished by simply forming astraight walled recess and then turning the flanges 4I inwardly in themanner which is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing to engagethe flange portions 26 and 2l of the bar 28.

It will appear, from a consideration of Fig. 2 of the drawing, that theend 35 of the lock nnger is made somewhat thinner than the remainder ofthe linger to give a certain amount of spring property tosaid endportion to provide the swinging or pivotal movement of the finger, asabove described; whereas the spring 34 serves to normally support andurge the ngerinto operative position and is compressed in movement ofthe finger into inoperative position, in the manner heretofore defined.

Considering Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that, in the event ofa strain tending to move the slider downwardly along the stringers, thehookshaped contour or curvature of the finger or pin end 42, operatingupon the bevelled wall of the scoop engaged by the nger, will tend tofeed or draw the finger inwardly into more positive engagement with thescoop, thus insuring a positive lock of the slider against movementalong the stringers. This construction is contrary to conventional typesof pinlocks of the kind under consideration which have had a tendency tocam away from and disengage a scoop when excessive strain has beenapplied to the slider. From this standpoint, a more positive lockingengagement of the slider on.the stringers is accomplished` In formingthe slider as a die cast body, it will be apparent that a simplifiedcasting is formed. in that the pull supporting bar is not formed as anintegral part therewith, but rather as a separate member attached to onewall of the slider in the manner described. This type oi' constructionalso facilitates assemblage of the pull with the slider, as comparedwith devices where the bar constitutes an integral part of the sliderwall. v

i 4 Having fully described my'invention what I claim as new and ,desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

- i. In separable fastener stringers having scoops of V-shapedcross-sectional form spaced along each stringer edge, each scoop byvirtue of the V-shaped cross-section having a longitudinal channel onone surface thereof, the combination therewith of an improved lock'slider-comprising a lock element supported on the slider, a housing forsaid lock element, said element having a curved scoop-engaging endadapted to enter the channel of a scoop to retain the slider againstmovement in one direction along said strlngers, said element having itsother end thinner than the rest of the element to provide resiliencyfor. said element, spring means on the slider for yieldably supportingsaid element intermediate the ends thereof in a scoop-engaging position,means .in the housing for pivotally supporting the thinned end of theelement, and manually operated means on the slider for moving saidelement out of scoop-engaging position.

.2. In separable fastener stringers having scoops of V-shapedcross-sectional form spaced along each stringer edge, each scoop byvirtue of the V-shaped cross-section having a longitudinal channel onone surface thereof, the combination therewith of an improved lockslider comprising a lock element supported on the slider, a housing forsaid lock element, said element having a curved scoop-engaging endadapted to enter the channel of a scoop to retain the slider againstmovement in one direction along said stringers, means on the slider forkeying the element thereto intermediate the ends of the element, springmeans on the slider for yieldably supporting said element at said keyingpoint in a scoop-engaging position, means in the housing i'or pivotallysupporting the other end of the element, and manually operated means onthe slider' for moving said element out of scoop-engaging position.

LOUIS H. MORIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 21, 1,9 39

